INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION:
Miss Lizzy is a stuck up lady who hates children. They really get on her
nerves. One day she stops by McDonald’s for a quick lunch and, to her
horror, a bus load of school children come in right behind her.
Miss Lizzy
Facial
Expressions
Gestures/
Actions
Voice
Thoughts
Keep this in mind when you are writing. Sometimes
you can reveal quite a bit without actually “telling”
the reader!
DIALOGUE/MONOLOGUE
• DIALOGUE IS MUCH LIKE SALT: TOO MUCH CAN SPOIL THE STEW. INSTEAD, TRY SPRINKLING IT ON EVERY NOW
AND THEN. IT IS USED FOR TWO REASONS:
• 1) ADVANCE THE STORY OR
• 2) REVEAL SOMETHING ABOUT THE CHARACTER OR SETTING
• WHEN
USING DIALOGUE, KEEP THESE RULES IN MIND:
• 1) PUNCTUATE CORRECTLY:
•
SET DIALOGUE APART FROM SURROUNDING NARRATION:
•
•
USE A COMMA AND NOT A FULL STOP BEFORE YOUR DIALOGUE TAG,” SHE GRUMBLED.
IF A CHARACTER’S SPEECH IS INTERRUPTED BY DIALOGUE TAG OR ACTION, CLOSE AND RE-OPEN SPEECH MARKS.
•
•
“I WISH YOU WOULD
“I WISH YOU WOULD
STOP INTERRUPTING.” SHE SAID, HOLDING UP HER PALM, “AND LET ME FINISH!”
ALWAYS START A NEW PARAGRAPH WHEN A DIFFERENT CHARACTER STARTS SPEAKING. THIS WAY IT IS CLEAR WHO SAYS
WHAT IN A SCENE INVOLVING TWO OR MORE CHARACTERS.
• 2) KEEP DIALOGUE TAGS TO A MINIMUM.
•
“I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WERE ARRIVING AT FOUR,” HE SAID, HIS FACE THUNDEROUS. VS.
•
HE STOOD STIFFLY, ARMS CROSSED. “I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WERE ARRIVING AT FOUR?”
• 3) CUT OUT FILLER WORDS
•
THAT MAKE DIALOGUE TOO LIFELIKE.
CUT DAY-TO-DAY CONVERSATION THAT NOBODY WOULD EVER CARE TO EAVESDROP ON WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
Begin writing your
story!
What were you doing?
What were those around you
doing?
What were you thinking?
How were you feeling?
Describe the scene.
Always SHOW, not tell.